Connection



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Patented Apr. 6, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Cleveland Crane &

Engineering Company,

Wicklie, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 26, 1932, Serial No. 613,688

17 Claims.

This invention relates to couplings or connections for structural members such as beams, angles, channels and the like, and is particularly adapted for connecting the adjacent free ends of arch beams employed in an overhead carrier system and suspending or supporting the same from a suitable superstructure.

An object of the present invention resides in producing a coupling of the type referred to in which the overhead room or clearance required is reduced to a minimum, thus making the installation particularly adaptable in locations in which the question of head room is of primary importance.

l5 Another object of the invention is to permit increased load capacity over former similar structures or couplings and at the same time producing a simplified construction.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a coupling which is flexibly suspended or supported from a hanger rod in a mannerto permit the system to swing under the swaying action of the load as it traverses the beam.

Another object of the invention resides in producing a coupling of the type referred to which is simple in construction, efcient in purpose and inexpensive to manufacture.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevational View of a fragmentary portion of a carrier system showing the invention embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional View taken on line 3-3f of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of a portion of the arch beam and the coupling embodying the invention.

The manner of connecting and supporting the adjacent free ends of the rails or arch beams employed in a monorail system has always been an important consideration in connection with the installation of such systems.

Limited head room in existing buildings, where an overhead' system is to be erected, is usually of beam having their inner adjacent ends free, but shown in abutting relation at II, although this is not necessary. The upper portion of the beams adjacent the ends are cut away toprovide a space I2, while the webs of the beams are cut away to 5 provide openings I3 which materially lighten the structure.

The lower portion of the beam structure comprises an inverted' T rail which is welded to the adjacent portion of the web and along the connection therebetween the web of the rail has longitudinally extending integral beads I4. The upper surfaces of the flange I5 of the rail have raised treads I6 extending longitudinally along the outer edges thereof and are adapted to support the wheels of a carrier, not shown. The upper portion of the beam is provided with the usual ange II, the inner ends of which terminate at the opening I2.

A pair of plates I8, preferably identical in for- 20 mation, are disposed upon the opposite sides oi the webs of the beam I0 and extend between the flanges I5 and I'I. A plurality of aligned openings are provided in the plates I8 and the webs to receive rivets or bolts I9 which secure the elements in assembled relation. The lower portions of the plates I8 have longitudinally extending corrugations 20 which cooperate with the beads I4 tending to properly align the plates I8 and at the same time provide the necessary reinforcing therefor.

Extending along the upper edges of the plates I8 are integral flanges 2| which project laterally and in opposite directions, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3, the outer edges of the flanges preferably terminating in the planes of the outer edges of the flanges I'I and being disposed beneath the flanges.v 'Ihe central portion of the'plates I8 and the flanges 2l are offset at 22 and the offset portions are disposed within the opening I2 between the adjacent edges of the flanges I1. The ends of the flanges 2I, which lie beneath the flanges I'I, may be rounded as shown at 22 in Fig. 4.

Transversely aligned openings 23 are provided in the plates I8 having rounded upper portions which are cut out at 24 to provide flat surfaces 25. The plates I8 between the flat surfaces 25 and the flanges adjacent the offset portions 22 are offset to provide cooperating aligned recesses 26 extending transversely therebetween. A circular member 2l has a counterbore 28 in its upper side which receives the lower ends of the offset portions providing the recesses 26 and has an opening 29 which is in alignment with the said recesses 25. This circular member 21 may be welded or otherwise secured to the offset portions and the lower surface is preferably concave, as in Fig. 2.

A hanger rod 3S extends through said recesses 26 and said opening 2li and has a screw threaded end which receives a rocker nut 3l having a convex upper surface engageable with the concave surface on the member 2l to provide a swivel or flexible connection therebetween. A lock or chuck nut 32 is also mounted upon the screw threaded end of the hanger rod 30 and provides for longitudinal adjustment of the hanger rod 30, as well as a securing means for the rocker nut 3|.

The upper end of the hanger rod 3|]` has a head 33, the upper side being rounded or convex and is adapted to be supported from any suitable superstructure, so as to provide for a flexible or swivel connection therebetween.

In the drawing a preferred support is shown comprising a rail clamp 34 of U-shape in cross section and having flat surfaces 35 along its upper free ends which engage with the bottom of a beam flange 36. The clamp 34 has an opening 31 therein of larger `diameter than thel diameter of the hanger rod 30 which extends therethrough and the head engages the ysurface around the opening 37 to provide a swivel connection.

The clamp 34 has oppositely inclined lower surfaces 38 upon which are slidably mounted a pair of clips 38 adjustable bymeans of a rod 39 having its upper ends connected to members or plates 4U welded or otherwise secured tothe inner surface of the clips 38'. The clips 38 have bearing members 4l secured thereto Whichengage the upper surfaces of the beam flange `36V and, when the clips 38 are moved toward each other by the rod 39, the flange is securely clamped 'between the bearing members Il and the rail clamps 34.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be `understood that I am not to be limited thereto inasmuch las changes and modifications may be resorted` to without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A device of the character described comprising a pair of supporting 'plates spaced 'apart in substantial parallelism and `having laterally extending flanges at their upper portions, said plates being vadapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of spaced members, said plates having aligned openings therethrough and cooperating recesses extending inwardly from said flanges and terminating at said openings, a hanger member having a portion disposed within said recesses, and a connection between said plates and the adjacent end of said hanger member.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of supporting plates spaced apart in substantial parallelism and having laterally extending anges at their upper portions, said plates being adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of spaced members, said plates having aligned openings therethrough and cooperating recesses extending inwardly fr'om said flanges and terminating at said openings, a hanger member extending throughs'aid recesses and having its adjacent end screw-threaded, and screw-threaded means engageable With the screwthreaded end of said hanger member and providing a connection with said plates.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of supporting plates spaced apart in substantial parallelism and having laterally extending anges at their upper portions, said plates being adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of spaced members, said plates having aligned openings therethrough and cooperating recesses extending inwardly irom said flanges and terminating at said openings, a hanger member extending through said recesses and having its adjacent end screw-threaded, a swivel 'connection between said plates and said hanger member, and a screw-threaded member en'gag'eable with the screw-threaded end of said hanger member and said connection.

4. A device of the character described comprising sectional track members having laterally extending wheel engaging flanges and webs connecte'd thereto, the portions of said webs adjacent said flanges being in abutting relation and the other portions of said webs being in spaced relation, a lmember connected to the adjacent ends of said webs, and a hanger member having one end connected to said member at a location between the spaced portions of said webs.

5. A device of the character described comprising sectional track members having laterally extending wheel engaging flanges and webs connected thereto, the portions oi said webs adjacent said flanges being in abutting relation and the other portions of said webs being in spaced relation, a member connected to the adjacent ends of said webs, and a hanger member having one end swivelly connected to said member at a location between the spaced portions of said webs.

6. devicetof the character described comprising sectional track members having laterally extending wheel engaging anges and webs connected thereto, the portions of said webs adjacent said flanges being in abutting relation and the other portions of said webs being in spaced relation,members disposed upon opposite sides of said track members and connected to the adjacent ends of said webs, and a hanger member having one end connected to said members at a location between the spaced. portions of said webs.`

'7. A device of the character described comprising sectional track members having laterally extending wheel engaging flanges and webs connected thereto, the portions of said webs adjacent said flanges being in abutting relation and the other portions of said webs-being in spaced relation, members disposed upon opposite sides of said track members and connected to the adjacent ends oi said webs, and a hanger member having one Yendextending between said members and connected thereto at a location between the spaced portions of -said webs.

8. A device of the character described comprising sectional track members having laterally extending wheel engaging flanges and webs connectedthereto, theportions oi said webs adjacent said flanges being in abutting relation and the other portions of said websfbeing in spaced relation,.plates disposed upon opposite sides "of said track members and connected to the adjacent ends of said webs, transversely aligned openings in said plates between the spaced portions of said webs, anda hanger member having one'end extending between said plates through to said aligned openings and swivelly connected to said plates.

9. A device of the character described comprising sectional track members having laterally extending wheel engaging flanges and webs connected thereto, the portions of said webs adjacent said flanges being in abutting relation and the other portions of said webs being in spaced relation, plates disposed upon opposite sides of said track members and connected to the adjacent ends of said webs, transversely aligned openings in said plates between the spaced portions of said webs, said plates being provided with cooperating grooves intermediate the spaced portions of said webs and extending from said aligned openings outwardly, and a hanger member having one' end extending through said cooperating grooves to said aligned openings and pivotally connected to said plates.

10. A device of the character described comprising sectional track members having upper and lower laterally extending flanges and connecting webs, the lower flanges and a portion of the webs being in abutting relation while the upper anges and another portion of the webs are in spaced relation, a member connected to the adjacent ends of said webs, and a hanger member having one end connected to said member at a location between the spaced portions of said webs and anges.

ll. A device of the character described cornprising sectional track members having upper and lower laterally extending flanges and connecting webs, the lower il'anges and a portion of the webs being in abutting relation while the upper ilanges and another portion of the webs are in spaced relation, plates upon opposite sides of said track members and connected to the adjacent ends of said webs, said plates having laterally extending flanges at their upper portions the opposite ends of which are adapted to underlie the adjacent portions of said upper flanges, and a hanger member having one end connected to said plates at a location between the spaced portions of said webs.

l2. A device of the character described comprising sectional track members having upper and lower laterally extending flanges and connecting webs, the lower flanges and a portion of the webs being in abutting relation while the upper flanges and another portion of the webs are in spaced relation, plates upon opposite sides of said track members and connected to the adjacent ends of said webs, said plates having latern ally extending flanges at their upper portions the opposite ends of which are adapted to underlie the adjacent portions of said upper 'anges, said plates having transversely aligned openings and cooperating grooves intermediate the spaced portions of said webs, said grooves extending from said alinged openings outwardly, and a hanger member having one end extending through said grooves to said aligned openings and pivotally connected to said plates.

13. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member having a laterally extending flange and adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of a pair of spaced members, a hanger member, and a connection between said supporting member and said hanger member located between the adjacent ends of the spaced members, said flange reenforcing said supporting member adjacent the connection between it and said hanger member.

14. A device of the character described comprising a supporting member having a laterally extending iiange and adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of a pair of spaced members, a hanger member, and a swivel connection between said supporting member and said hanger member and located between the adjacent ends of the spaced members, said ilange reenforcing said supporting member adjacent its connection with the hanger member.

15. A device of the character described cornprising a pair of supporting plates spaced apart in substantial parallelism and having laterally extending flanges at their Lipper portions, said plates being adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of spaced members, a hanger member, and a connection between one end of said hanger member and said plates and located between the adjacent ends of the spaced members, said flanges reenforcing said plates adjacent the connection between them and said hanger mem ber.

16. A device of the character described com# prising a pair of supporting plates spaced apart in substantial parallelism and having laterally extending flanges at their upper portions, said plates being adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of spaced members, a hanger member, and a swivel connection between one end of said hanger member and said plates and located between the adjacent ends of the spaced members, said flanges reenforcing said plates adjacent their connection with said hanger member.

17. A device of the character described cornprising a pair of supporting plates spaced apart in substantial parallelism and having laterally extending anges at their upper portions, said plates being adapted to be connected to the adjacent ends of spaced members, said plates being provided with cooperating recesses to provide an opening therebetween, a hanger member having one end disposed within said opening, and a connection between` said plates and the adjacent end of said hanger member and located between the adjacent ends of the spaced members, said flanges reenforcing said plates adjacent their connection with said hanger member.

WILLIAM G. WEHR. y 

